Surname Steares - Meaning and Origin

Steares: What does the surname Steares mean?

The surname Steares is an old English name of Anglo-Saxon origin. The name was first found in Lancashire in the mid-12th century, where they would have had settlements by the River Steares, running near the northern city of Lancaster. In old English, the name Stearess probably came from the word "strae" meaning shingle or pebble, suggesting there may have been a rocky landscape around the area. Another possible derivation is from the word "ster" meaning a star, suggesting the family may have been stellar in some way.

As the name spread across England, varying spellings emerged with some of the more common variants being Staire, Steare, Staere, and Steares. During the 17th century, a great number of families bearing this name immigrated to the United States, establishing communities in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

Today the Steares family continues to multiply in countries around the world, bringing with them a rich legacy of pride in their hereditary traditions and loyalty to their roots. Regardless of the area they settled in, the name has always held a certain stature and was seen in the community as one of high honour.

Steares: Where does the name Steares come from?

The last name Steares is most commonly found today in Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and England.

In Canada, Steares is a French-origin name mainly located in the Quebec province and is seen in both the anglophone and francophone sectors.

In the United States, Steares is found mainly in parts of the Midwestern and Northeastern regions, though it is scattered throughout the country.

In Australia and New Zealand, the name Steares is of British origin with a scattering of migratory Canadian and American family members.

In England, the last name Steares is concentrated around the midlands mainly in and around Nottingham, Birmingham, Derby, and Sheffield. It is thought to be of French origin, stemming from families that migrated during the epidemic of displacement following the Black Plague, but it is likely that this surname also exists in England as a result of later immigration.

Overall, the name Steares is quite varied, existing in many countries with different ancestral and cultural roots. It is most commonly spotted in the Midwest, North East, and England, but also appears in Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.

Variations of the surname Steares

The surnames Steares, Stars, Starrs, Starr, Staar, Stair, Stares, Stairs, Stayer, Stires and Strair all have a common origin. These variations may be derived from a single original common form, depending on how each person's new surname was spelled and pronounced.

The surname Steares is typically an English surname derived from the Old English words "staer," which means "stake," and "staer-leas," which means "stake less." This suggests that the original owner of the name may have been someone who owned or worked with stakes, such as a fence-maker, a hedge-layer, or someone who cut wood for firewood. Other variations of the spelling may be derived from the Middle Low German "staer," which means "post," or its Dutch equivalent "ster," suggesting a connection to a carpenter.

The Steares spelling may also have found its way to England via Scottish settlers during the Norman Conquest. In this case, the spelling likely originated from the Irish surname O'Siadhaire, which roughly translates to "descendant of the one who works with stakes." As this surname developed over time in Scotland, its spelling and pronunciation changed, eventually resulting in the variant Steares.

No matter its original source, all of these surnames are likely connected to the same original common form. Over time, however, these spellings and related surnames have become distinct due to their pronunciation and spelling differences.

Famous people with the name Steares

• Julius Steare: famous banker in the 1800s who founded a merchant bank in Liverpool.
• William Steares: African-American author from New York, his magnum opus was a book on James Dawkins, a major African-American entrepreneur in the 20th century.
• Vivian Steares: English playwright and children’s author, winner of the 2021 Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize for her book ‘The House of Jelly’.
• Bob Steares: successful professional wrestler and coach, known as “The Master of the Body Slam”.
• Bertha Steares: American musician and singer, known for her Pancho and Lefty album and for collaborating with Marty Robbins.
• Paul Steares: prominent American engineer and inventor, responsible for the design and implementation of the TouchTone keyboard that is used in most phones today.
• Rita Steares: famous British theatre actor who took on a variety of roles in productions both in London’s West End and in the provinces.
• Johann Steares: accomplished Austrian photographer and photojournalist, who has published work in the world’s newspapers and magazines, capturing the most beautiful sights in Austria and abroad.
• Celine Steares: former professional American basketball player, a member of the University of Connecticut's 2000 National Championship-winning team.
• SIMS Steares: American Christian rapper, his single “Education is the Key” was popular in Christian circles during the early 2000s.

Other surnames

StearSteareStearmanStearnsStears